§ 9-182. Purpose and intent.

(a)

To acquire, protect and manage environmentally significant lands and green space that contain natural upland or wetland communities, native plant communities, rare and endangered flora and fauna, endemic species, endangered species habitat, a diversity of species, significant water resources, or outstanding aesthetic, recreational or other natural features, maximizing protection of the county's habitats;

(b)

To acquire, protect and manage environmentally significant lands and green space which offer optimal human social value, including balanced geographic distribution when possible, resource and nature-based recreation, and protection of water resources, local ecological awareness, and enhancement of the aesthetic setting of the county;

(c)

To acquire, protect and manage environmentally significant lands and green space that serve to recharge the county's aquifers and protect its wetlands and surface water resources to ensure the delivery of clean and plentiful water supplies and provide flood control;

(d)

To protect present conservation lands by acquiring, protecting and managing adjacent properties which, if not acquired, would threaten the environmental integrity of the existing resource, or which, if acquired, would enhance and buffer the environmental integrity of the resource, and add to resource connectivity and to existing natural areas and wildlife corridors;

(e)

To restore the natural functions, as necessary, to any impacted and vulnerable habitats which would then contribute significantly to fulfilling this program's goals;

(f)

To help implement the objectives and policies of the county's comprehensive management plan, which has been promulgated to preserve and protect environmentally significant areas, and other natural resources, wetlands, endangered species habitat, and to buffer the county's primary urban service areas from the effects of growth;

(g)

To identify the county's environmental lands and green spaces for acquisition, including less-than-fee simple acquisition (such as development rights, environmental easements, leases, leaseback arrangements and life estates), protection and management by evaluating the biological and hydrological characteristics and viability of the resource, the vulnerability of the resource to degradation or destruction, and the feasibility of managing the resource to maintain its natural or green space attributes;

(h)

To manage acquired environmentally significant lands with the primary objectives of maintaining and preserving their natural resource values, and providing appropriate resource and nature-based recreational and educational opportunities, including development of trails, and areas suitable for fishing, wildlife study, canoeing, camping, kayaking and other resource based opportunities, by employing management techniques that are most appropriate for each native community so that our natural heritage may be preserved and appreciated by and for present and future generations;

(i)

To have the acquired sites available, with minimal risk to the environmental integrity of the site, to educate the general public about the uniqueness and importance of the county's subtropical ecosystems and natural communities;

(j)

To protect natural resources which are adjacent to the boundaries of other conservation land acquisition programs, where the program's fund would leverage other matching funds for other agency acquisition projects that would not be available without such a local match, or which would result in considerably higher funding rank in another program.

(k)

To cooperate actively with other acquisition, conservation, and resource management programs, including, but not limited to, such programs as the State of Florida Conservation and Recreation Lands program, Florida Forever, Florida Communities Trust program, Rural and Family Lands Protection Act and Save Our Rivers program, where the purposes of such programs are consistent with the purposes of this article.

(l)

The program fund shall be in addition to, and shall not supplant, current and future funds for parks and recreation land acquisition, development and management.

(m)

To purchase lands not to exceed sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) as outlined in Resolution 04-55R. Revenue in excess of sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) shall be used to fully fund the management sub-fund to manage all acquired lands before any additional lands are purchased.

(Ord. No. 04-28, § 2, 7-26-04; Ord. No. 06-25, § (1(A), 6-26-06)